Sir Ian Kennedy
today set out the areas he will consider in his review of NHS
services for children, looking at how to build on recent progress
and ensure lasting improvements in quality and outcomes for children.
The Chief Executive of the NHS, David Nicholson, has commissioned
Sir Ian to explore the cultural obstacles that can stand in the
way of sustained improvement in the provision of care for children
and to consider what can be done to develop the NHS’ contribution
to safeguarding children.
Sir Ian will look at what needs to be done to build on action
already underway and how such action can be embedded and
developed. He will look at areas such as:
the care of children outside specifically paediatric
settings;health visiting and community services; the pathways of
care;primary care including A&E; andarrangements to
safeguard children; the management of the transition to adult
care;how the NHS works with its partners to support children;
andhow the NHS responds to the needs of families as well as
individuals.
David Nicholson said:
“Improving child health and well-being has been a clear priority
for the NHS in recent years and a comprehensive programme of
action to safeguard children has delivered real progress.
“The work I have asked Sir Ian to undertake will build on this
progress and his findings will be used to support sustained
improvement for the long term in the work the NHS does to
safeguard children”.
In his review, Sir Ian will engage with a wide range of NHS
workers, leaders and key stakeholders in the field of children’s
health services.
Sir Ian said
”I am delighted that David Nicholson has asked me to
undertake this important piece of work. The care and welfare of
children are a large part of what the NHS does. There are many
examples of good practice, but there is also room for improvement:
the importance of children and young people’s health and wellbeing
cannot be overstated.
“I am keen to talk to NHS staff, those involved in health and
healthcare, children and their families, and anyone else with an
interest in this project. I want to hear about what’s working
well, where the problems are and any ideas that people have for
making sustainable improvements, so that we can work together to
make the NHS even more responsive to children, their needs and aspirations.”
David Nicholson has asked Sir Ian to report with recommendations
by March 2010
Notes to Editors
About Sir Ian Kennedy
Professor Sir Ian Kennedy LLD is a lawyer who, for the past few
decades, has lectured and written on the law and the ethics of
healthcare. He was chairman of the Healthcare Commission from
its inception in 2003 until its merger into the Care Quality
Commission in 2009. He is also Emeritus Professor of Health
Law, Ethics and Policy at the School of Public Policy, University
College of London and Visiting Professor at the London School of
Economics. He is a former Dean of the Law School (1986-96) at
King’s College London and President of the Centre of Medical Laws
and Ethics, which he founded in 1978. He gave the Reith Lectures
in 1980. He was a member of the GMC for nine years and has been a
member of the Medicines Commission and the Department of Health’s
advisory group on AIDS, Chairman of the public inquiry (1998 –
2001) into paediatric cardiac surgery at Bristol, a government
inquiry (1997), into xenotransplantation (the use of
animal-to-human transplants), and an inquiry (1998) that
recommended changing the law relating to quarantine for animals
being brought into the UK from abroad. He is a Fellow of the
British Academy (FBA) (2002) and a Fellow of both King’s College,
London and University College, London. He was awarded an Honorary
DSc by the University of Glasgow in July 2003. He is an Honorary
Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (2002), Royal
College of Physicians (2003), Royal College of Paediatrics and
Child Health (2004), Royal College of Anaesthetists (2004) and
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2005). He was awarded an
honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine by the University of
Birmingham (2006). He was Knighted for services to medical law and
bioethics in 2002.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk